After Masamichi Yaga left, Sakurada Niji was alone in the hospital room. He thought about many things, but in the end, he decided to tell his parents everything.
"Knock, knock." Someone knocked at the door.
Sakurada Niji said, "Come in."
The people who opened the door were Sakurada Niji's parents, both beaming at him.
"Sweetheart~ the doctor said you're in great shape and recover quickly. There won't be any lasting damage, and you should be discharged in about two weeks~!"
"The police station just called, too. The person who hurt you has been arrested. Since he was a repeat offender, they sent him straight to prison~"
His mother, Sakurada Miyoko, spoke first, her face lit up with delight.
Then his father, Sakurada Yosuke, said, "A teacher from a high school just told us that their principal really admires children who stand up for others. He said that once you recover, you can skip a grade and enroll directly. Your mother and I both respect your wishes, so the choice is yours."
Sakurada Miyoko added, "Oh, right, that teacher came to see you just now, too. How did your conversation go? What do you think of the school~? People say it's a religious school, but! Rumor has it that it receives funding directly from the Tokyo metropolitan government~ How mysterious~"
"Dad, Mom, I'm going to tell you a few things. Please hear me out, believe what I say, and seriously consider my suggestions."
Seeing their son lying in bed and looking at them so solemnly, Sakurada Miyoko and Sakurada Yosuke grew serious as well.
"Go ahead, Niji. Your mother and I are listening."
Sakurada Niji gathered his thoughts and said, "Ever since I was little, I've been able to see monsters ordinary people can't. But because I have a special ability, they never hurt me. I've been using that power to protect the people around me, too, right up until the day I was badly injured and hospitalized."
With his parents still listening intently, Sakurada Niji continued, "The monster that injured me that day was far stronger than me in every way. Only when it was about to eat me did I understand my true power and manage to destroy it."
Sakurada Niji took the call bell beside his bed in his left hand and used his Cursed Technique to toss it gently upward. The call bell then stopped in midair. Miyoko and Yosuke stared in astonishment at the supernatural sight.
Sakurada Niji continued:
"That teacher from the religious school actually specializes in teaching people with special powers like me. That's what the school is for, too. They'll teach me how to use my power properly."
Sakurada Yosuke looked grave. "I see. Have you decided to go there? But I don't think they'll simply teach you how to control your powers. They'll probably ask you to join a special unit and destroy monsters afterward. That's dangerous."
"Son, I respect your wishes," Sakurada Yosuke cautioned him. "But I want you to think this through carefully."
"Sweetheart... it's too dangerous there. Please don't go, all right?" Sakurada Miyoko burst into tears, her face full of concern.
Looking at his parents, who couldn't bear to let him go, Sakurada Niji patiently explained.
"Dad, Mom, even if I don't go, I won't be free of danger. Besides, I don't want to waste my abilities. I want to protect as many people as I can, then find a way to wipe out the monsters for good."
Then he said earnestly to his parents, "I want you to move abroad. Doesn't our family have ancestral connections in China, next door? I want you to settle there. There are almost no monsters over there. You can come back once it's safe here."
Sakurada Yosuke's expression was heavy. "Is the situation here that bad?"
Sakurada Niji replied, "Yes. It's very bad."
"But the problem won't disappear just because we ignore it. There aren't many people like me who can deal with it. I shouldn't run away, and I don't want to."
With tears brimming in her eyes, Sakurada Miyoko said to Yosuke, "Yosuke... why does our son sound like a grown-up... while we're like children getting a lecture from him...?"
Sakurada Yosuke let out a long sigh. "All right... we understand. We respect your wishes, and we'll take your advice. We won't make you worry. Just stay here with your mind at ease... you don't need to worry about us..."
Sakurada Niji felt downhearted, too, but there was no other choice. Cursed Spirits were running rampant in Japan, and major events like the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, the Shibuya Incident, and the Culling Game still lay ahead. It was far too dangerous. Having his parents leave was the safest option.
"Dad, Mom, the school has someone who specializes in healing. I'll recover in no time, so don't worry about me. Your safety is what worries me most. I want you to leave Japan as soon as possible. As for me, the school pays such a generous stipend that I won't be able to spend it all. I'll send you whatever I have left."
Sakurada Niji put on a carefree tone. "You could travel around the world~ And it would be even better if you brought me back a little brother or sister someday~"
"Technology is so advanced now. Maybe we'll even be able to talk face-to-face through our phone screens someday~ Besides, if I get tired, I'll take some time off and come visit you~"
Her face streaked with tears, Sakurada Miyoko slowly leaned down and gently rubbed her cheek against Sakurada Niji's. She whispered in his ear, "Sweetheart, make sure you take care of yourself. If it gets too dangerous, just run. Don't sacrifice yourself for other people, all right?"
Sakurada Yosuke also looked at him earnestly. "I'm very proud to have a son like you."
"Niji, let your colors shine in this dark world!"
"You can do it, sweetheart!" Sakurada Miyoko straightened up and cheered him on.
Holding back the tears at the corners of his eyes, Sakurada Niji answered his parents earnestly, "Yes! I'll always remember!"
To keep Sakurada Niji from worrying, Sakurada Yosuke and Sakurada Miyoko left Japan that very night and headed to neighboring China.
The next day.
Lying alone in his hospital room, Sakurada Niji felt hollow inside. It was exactly like coming home from work in his previous life and looking around his empty rented room. This time, though, the feeling was so intense that he struggled to adjust.
"Knock~ knock~ knock~" A knock came at the door. Sakurada Niji set his thoughts aside, wondering with a little anticipation who was outside. A classmate?
For some reason, he felt nervous. "Come in."
The girl who entered the hospital room had a cute short haircut and a mole near the corner of her eye. Everything about her seemed languid.
As soon as she entered, she introduced herself to Sakurada Niji. "Sorry to bother you~ Nice to meet you, Sakurada~ I'm Shoko Ieiri~ Like you, I'll be enrolling at Tokyo Jujutsu High soon~ I'm here to heal you today~"
Her voice was pleasant, but her tone was lazy and casual.
Sakurada Niji was a little nervous. He wasn't good at talking to girls, especially when a character from a manga was standing right in front of him.
Shoko looks so pretty with short hair. That laid-back, casual air is really charming.
"Hello, Ieiri," Sakurada Niji said awkwardly. "Ah, um, thank you for coming to heal me."
Looking at Sakurada Niji lying in the hospital bed, Shoko Ieiri thought the boy seemed far too nervous, so she said, "Well~ we'll be together at school from now on, anyway. We'll get to know each other sooner or later~"
"Well~ it doesn't really matter~ Let me heal you. First, I'll take off your bandages..." Shoko Ieiri stood beside his bed and lifted his blanket.
Having been single for over thirty years, he had never experienced anything like this. He froze, his mind completely blank, aware only of someone's hands moving over his body. He had no idea how much time passed. Just when he felt as though his CPU was about to burn out, he finally heard the words that set him free.
"All done~ You're in pretty good shape~ Get your things together and come to school with me~~" With the treatment finished, Shoko headed for the door and waved to Sakurada Niji behind her.
"Oh... okay. Please wait outside for a moment, Ieiri. I'll get ready and come out."
It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank goodness only my upper body was injured, or I'd have died of embarrassment. Did they send a precious wielder of Reverse Cursed Technique to pick me up because there are too many Cursed Spirits around?
Sakurada Niji got up and felt his chest. There was no pain. He raised his right hand and brought it down against the side of the bed. The cast broke apart, revealing the pale skin beneath.
"Reverse Cursed Technique... it's so convenient... I wonder if I can awaken it myself... but... with the way she teaches... there's no way I could learn it..."
After getting dressed, he went to the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror.
His long gray hair hung down to his chest. His handsome features and gray eyes gave him a somber air. Though he was only fifteen, he had none of a boy's youthful energy.
Sakurada Niji quickly washed up and tied his hair into a high ponytail, unable to stop himself from thinking of his parents again.
Mom must have been cleaning me up all those days I was unconscious...
Putting those thoughts aside, Sakurada Niji left the bathroom, walked to the hospital room's door, and pushed it open. He looked around and finally found Shoko at the nurses' station, exchanging experiences with a nurse.
Without saying anything, he waited quietly where he stood. Only after Shoko finished talking did he call to her, "Ieiri, I'm ready."
Hearing him call, Shoko slid off the stool at the nurses' station and rubbed her head. "Sorry, Sakurada~ I almost forgot I was here to pick you up~"
"I took too long, Ieiri. Let's go now."
"OK~ the car's downstairs." Shoko made an okay sign with her hand.
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